director's report. 3 



both washed ashore, the former having her mast and inside wood- 

 work considerably injured, but the latter, though found half full of 

 mud and snow, has proved to be little the worse. The launch is 

 now under repair and is to be handed over in a finished condition 

 on the 9th of May. 



The catalogue of books in the Library has been considerably 

 augmented through the kindness of several members and others. 



A valuable hydrometer has also been presented to the Associa- 

 tion by D. Y. Buchanan, Esq., F.R.S. 



With regard to the working of the Laboratory itself, little need 

 be said, since all the important work of the staff is from time to 

 time published in the Journal . In addition to the ordinary tanks, a 

 hatching box on Captain Dunnevig's principle has been constructed 

 and is now being used by Mr. Cunningham. The severity of the 

 past season seems to have affected the animals in the tanks ; the 

 mortalit}^, I am informed, has been decidedly above the average. 

 Larval forms, also, seem scarce in the open sea, the tow-net show- 

 ing enormous numbers of copepods, &c., but as yet (April 14th) not 

 many larval stages of any importance. 



Several experiments have been made with a view to determine 

 the composition of the sea-water in this locality. The Avater outside 

 Plymouth Sound, in the open Channel, has been compared with that 

 just below the Laboratory, at the mouth of the pipe which supplies 

 the tanks. The two samples agree in every way. The water in the 

 tanks of the Laboratory has since been tested, with this somewhat 

 singular result, that although perfectly normal as regards density 

 it is distinctly deficient in carbonates. 



This may possibly result from the system of keeping the same water 

 in circulation over and over again without a fresh supply being- 

 brought in from the open sea ; it should therefore easily be got over 

 by more frequent pumping, the water at the mouth of the pipe 

 being all that can be desired. 



During the winter months only two gentlemen, other than the 

 Permanent Staff, have taken advantage of the Laboratory : — E. A. 

 Minchin, Esq., Anatomical Department, Oxford (Sponges), and T. 

 H. Riches, Esq., late of Caius College, Cambridge (Paguridge). 



W. L. Calderwood. 



